Baseboard radiator enclosure



Jan. 5, 1954 H. s. WOODRUFF BASEBOARD RADIATOR ENCLOSURE Filed Aug. 29, 1951 INVENTOR HENRY S. WOODRUFF BY 4 g 9 Z ATTOR NEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1954 BASEBOA RD RADIATOR ENCLQSUBE Henry S. WoodrufLNewark, N. 3., assignor to The Variflame Corporation, White Plains, .N; Y., a

a corporation of New York Application August 29, 1951, Serial No. 2e1;4 2 15 5 Claims. 1

i The invention relates to enclosures for radiators of-the finned tube or similartype designed to be mounted adjacent andextend along the base of a roomwall. Its objects are to provide such an enclosure whichis efficient so far asheat distribution is concerned, which minimizes the chances of wall-smudge, which can be conveniently and securelyinstalled and which, at the same time, presents a neat, unobtrusive appearance.

.Ihe invention will be readily understood from the following description of the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a length of the enclosure; and

Fig. 2 is a partially-sectioned, broken-out elevation of the same.

I In general, the enclosure consists of three sheet -metal units, namely, what will be termed a cap piece unit I, a hanger bracket unit 2 and a cover panel unit 3, the complete enclosure being adapted to be at least partially recessed into the wall, to minimize the extent to which it protrudes into the room. So installed, the top panel Ll of thecap piece can be surmounted by a moulding strip 5.

"The, cap. piece. is. formed up. in convenient unit lengths to provide a depending, forwardly slanted front panel 6 and a depending, vertical, rear panel 1 which extends down below the lower edge of the front panel '6. At about midway of its height and also adjacent its lower edge, the rear panel of the cap piece is provided with holes at appropriate distances to receive mounting screws 8, 9. It will be understood that the width (vertically) of the rear panel of the cap piece and the extent to which such panel forms a backing for the enclosure may be varied at will, the short panel illustrated being presently preferred because of its economy of material.

The forwardly projecting hanger brackets are mounted at suitable intervals in the length of the enclosure to support the radiator tube it, which seats in the hook-shaped portion I I at the lower end of each hanger bracket. At the top rear of each bracket is a perforated mounting tab or ear 12 adapted to overlie and be located from mounting screw holes in the rear cap piece flange. As many of the screws Q as may be required by the spacing of the hanger brackets are used to secure the upper ends of the brackets to the wall or backing of the enclosure. 'So secured, the hanger brackets are readily adjusted to an approximately vertical position and attached to the wall at their lower ends by means of screws [3 passing through v :2 mounting tabs or ears" [4 having screw slqtsl l'. By thus locating the hanger brackets by and first securing them with reference to the cap piece,

their alignment longitudinally of the enclosure is assured. As will belunders tood,thescr ew slot facilitates installation and also allows for slight horizontal self-adjustmentpr swinging movement of the lower end ofthe hanger bracliet'to accommodate it to any subsequentendwise movement of the radiator tube.

The cover panel has its upper and lower body portions angularly disposedl to one lanother, as indicatedand at its upper endis flanged as at l 5, to overlie and engage ahook is projecting upwardly at the upper end 'of the hanger bracket.

At its lower end, the cover. panel f is similarly formed up, as at ll ior engagement' with a latch element, as in theforn'i of oi -incorporating a suit- I able notch or shoulder i ln this instanceand .as

is preferred, a separate latchds provided consisting of an arm l8 pivotally mpuntedat IS on e side ofthe h n r,bra ke endnqt hei sea 2&3, at the forward end of the arm for engagement with and bythe lower cover panel'flange. As appearsin Fig. 2,:thefo'rw'ard vertical edge ofthe latch l8 projects-slightly beyond the-forward verticalfiedge z" of the hook portion llof-=the hanger bracket. The lower front corner of the hanger bracket is cut out, as at 2", to clear the up-turned, notch-engaging portion of flange IT.

The hanger plate includes a projection or shoulder portion 23 located to abut the rear face of the cover panel at a point intermediate its flanges and preferably adjacent the upper end of the panel below the hook IS. The shoulder portion 23 projects outwardly such a distance that, when the upper panel flange is hung on hook l6 and the cover panel allowed to hang freely, the lower panel flange is located slightly outwardly of the latch notch 20. With the shoulder portion 23 serving as the fulcrum and by pressing the lower end of the cover panel inwardly, the resilient panel is readily flexed to a degree permitting engagement of the latch notch and lower panel flange. The resilience of the panel ensures its secure latching against accidental displacement and also eliminates the possibility of rattling.

As will be recognized, the upwardly tapering shape of the major part of the enclosure, with its wide open bottom suitably spaced above floor level, contributes not only to an effective chimney action for the heated air but also reduces the depth of the enclosure, particularly at its upper end, and thereby tends to blend the enclosure into the wall and minimize its apparent size.

If desired, the hot air outlet 25, represented by the space between the depending, cap piece panel 6 and the upper, cover panel flange, can be controlled, as by means of a damper 26 indicated as hinged to the cap piece flange 21.

As illustrated, the described enclosure sections may terminate short of the corner of the room and their ends covered or united by any suitable angular cover piece 30.

In the light of the foregoing description exemplifying the principles of the invention in preferred form, the following is claimed:

1. A baseboard radiator enclosure comprising a cap piece having a depending front panel, a top panel and a depending rear panel extending below the front panel; a forwardly projecting hanger bracket having a depending, hookshaped, radiator-supporting portion and, at its upper end, a mounting tab adapted to overlie the rear panel of the cap piece; a forwardly projecting latch pivotally mounted on the hanger bracket adjacent the lower end thereof; said hanger bracket having an upwardly projecting hook adjacent its upper end; and a resilient front cover panel having a top flange adapted to overlie and suspend the panel from said hook and a bottom flange adapted to engage said latch; said hanger bracket having a shoulder portion below its said hook adapted to abut and flex the cover panel intermediate the said cover panel flanges.

2. A baseboard radiator enclosure comprising a cap piece having a depending front panel, a top panel and 9. depending rear panel extending below the front panel; a forwardly projecting hanger bracket having a depending, hookshaped, radiator-supporting portion and, at its upper end, a mounting tab adapted to overlie the rear panel of the cap piece; a latch on the hanger bracket adjacent the lower end thereof; said hanger bracket having an upwardly projecting hook adjacent its upper end; and a resilient front cover panel having a top flange adapted to overlie and suspend the panel from said hook and a bottom flange adapted to engage said latch; said hanger bracket having a shoulder portion below its said hook adapted to 4 abut and flex the cover panel intermediate the said cover panel flanges.

3. A baseboard radiator enclosure comprising a cap piece having a top panel and a depending rear panel extending below the front panel; a forwardly projecting hanger bracket having a radiator-supporting portion and, at its upper end, a, mounting portion adapted to overlie the rear panel of the cap piece; a latch on the hanger bracket adjacent the lower end thereof; said hanger bracket having an upwardly projecting hook adjacent its upper end; and a resilient front cover panel having a top flange adapted to overlie and suspend the panel from said hook and a bottom flange adapted to engage said latch; said hanger bracket having a shoulder portion below its said hook adapted to abut and flex the cover panel intermediate the said cover panel flanges.

4. In a radiator enclosure of the kind including a radiator hanger bracket adapted for attachment to a wall, the improvement which comprises: an upper hook element on said bracket and a latch element mounted on the bracket for movement relatively thereto; a cover panel having upper and lower portions adapted for engagement respectively with said elements; and, on the hanger bracket, an intermediate shoulder portion adapted to abut the rear face of and flex the cover panel.

5. In a radiator enclosure of the kind including a radiator hanger bracket adapted for attachment to a wall, the improvement which comprises: an upper hook element on said bracket and a lower latch element thereon; a cover panel having upper and lower portions adapted for engagement respectively with said elements; and, on the hanger bracket, an intermediate shoulder portion adapted to abut the rear face of and flex the cover panel.

HENRY S. WOODRUFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,907,527 Erskine May 9, 1933 2,477,824 Reiss Aug. 2, 1949 

